The figures are as large as the life; and it may safely be said,
that the world never beheld, on a similar occasion, a more noble
assemblage. It was the native and unchartered nobility of great
talent, cultivated intelligence, superior manners, high moral aim,
and devoted patriotism. The crisis demanded the utmost firmness of
which the human mind is capable--a firmness not produced, for the
moment, by passion and enthusiasm, but resting on the most able
comprehension of both duties and dangers, and on a _principled_
determination to combat the one and to fulfil the other.
This moral effect has been produced in the fullest and finest
manner by this great painter; and no true American can contemplate
this picture without gratitude to the men who, under God, asserted
his liberties, and to the artist who has commemorated the event,
and transmitted the very features and persons of the actors to
posterity. Such efforts of the pencil tend powerfully also to
invigorate patriotism, and to prompt the rising generation to
emulate such glorious examples.
The composition and execution in this picture are in a masterly
style. The grouping of so many full length portraits, in a scene
in which there could scarcely be any action, and in such a manner
as to dispose of them without monotony, was an attainment of no
small difficulty. The painter could not even avail himself of
the adventitious relief of splendid costume and furniture, and
of magnificence or rich decorations in architecture; for on this
occasion both were characterized by an elegant simplicity only,
such however as became the actors and the crisis.
The composition has all the variety of which it is susceptible; and
there is also enough of it in the style of dress and of features to
relieve the eye from any danger of satiety.
It is believed, that in this picture, the United States possess
a treasure to which there is no parallel in the world. In no
instance, within our knowledge, is there an exhibition to an
equal extent, of the actual portraits of an illustrious assembly,
concerned in so momentous a transaction.
It was a great thing to assert, _in principle_, the liberties of
this country; but it was also a great thing to vindicate them by
arms; and we rejoice that Colonel Trumbull is still to proceed,
under the sanction of government, to delineate other scenes, in
which Washington and his illustrious American coadjutors, and the
flower of French chivalry, were the actors. In the maturity of his
experience, skill, and fame--possessed, as he is, of the portraits
of most of the great men of that period, taken principally from the
life, and having been himself largely and personally conversant
with them in their great deeds, we trust that the government will
promptly second what we doubt not the united voice of the nation
will demand--that the illustrious artist should dedicate the
evening of his life to his country's honour and glory.
INTELLIGENCE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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